Restaurant landscape changing in Marietta

August 18, 2013

Two new restaurants will move in over the next few months and old favorites are merging. The Qdoba Mexican Grill is coming and be located at Seventh and Pike.

"The best way to describe it is as a fast, casual restaurant that serves Mexican food," said Matt Herridge, a managing director and owner of Charton Management Inc.

Article Photos

Photo by Jasmine RogersKevin Black, right, the proprietor of Blacksmith Barbecue, and Jeff Els, Prime Steak and Seafood executive chef, pour beers at Blacksmith Barbecue on Pike Street. Black and Els are transitioning the space into a new restaurant —Prime Steak and Seafood — in anticipation of Blacksmith Barbecue relocating and merging with Over the Moon Pub & Pizza.

The company operates 23 Burger Kings throughout Ohio and West Virginia, including the Burger King on Pike Street in Marietta.

This will be its first venture into a new franchise and the Qdoba brand seemed like a good fit for the area, said Herridge.

"It really has something to offer this area that's not available yet. There are very few restaurants in what I call the fast casual category," he said.

Customers can expect to wait in a queue line and can craft their meal from an array of fresh ingredients, then enjoy a sit down dining atmosphere but without a server.

The restaurant will serve Mexican dishes such as burritos, tacos, tortilla soup and a queso dip that the franchise is "really known for," said Herridge.

Meals, including a drink, will cost between $6 to $9.

While some Qdoba restaurants serve alcohol, the Marietta location will not, he said.

The projected opening date is Nov. 11 and the restaurant will employ between 20 and 25 full-time employees, said Herridge.

Meanwhile, Blacksmith Barbecue will relocate from the Comfort Inn on Pike Street to Front Street and merge with Over the Moon Pub & Pizza.

Owner Kevin Black's former Seventh Street location had little dine-in space. However, he has experienced the opposite problem at the sprawling restaurant adjacent to the Comfort Inn.

"I'm not happy here because the quality of my food has suffered," said Black.

Black called Over the Moon his "Goldilocks place" because it's just the right size. Black will be paring down his menu to include his barbecue staples of pork, beef and wings.

"I want to get back to what I really love doing, creating world class barbecue," he said.

Black also will be looking for ways to use more local ingredients in the menu and has plans with Over the Moon owner Michael Mullen to convert a back room into a classy pub.

"My intention is to be up and running in there by Sternwheel Festival," he said.

A new name featuring both of the combined businesses is still in the works, he said.

Blacksmith Barbecue, under the name Blacksmith Tavern and Grill, will continue operating at the Comfort Inn until the end of August.

At that point the restaurant will transition into a new dining option - Prime Steak and Seafood.

The new restaurant is working on creating a menu and finding a good supplier of fresh fish, said executive chef Jeff Els.

"It'll be casual dining, very entree-oriented with lots of great cuts of steak and seafood. It's something I think the area could use," he said.

Also, restaurants have looked at the First Colony Center near the Fairfield Inn and Suites on Pike Street.

"Quite a number of restaurants have looked at the facility, but nobody has brought an offer to purchase," said Mike Gulliver, project manager for Larry Lang Excavating, which is developing the 20-acre area.